Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

An endcap system for a sporting implement includes a base portion and a transverse extension projecting from the base portion. The base portion has a bottom surface with a central axis normal thereto. A receptacle opposite the bottom surface is configured to receive a portion of the sporting implement. The extension is configured such that, during swinging of the sporting implement with a hand of a user gripping around the sporting implement portion, the extension contacts an exterior lateral portion and upper portion of a fifth metacarpal of the hand and the hand is constrained in both the transverse and longitudinal aspects while being allowed rotation of a first metacarpal of the hand away from the central axis.

An endcap for a sporting implement includes a base portion and a transverse extension projecting from the base portion. The base portion has a bottom surface with a central axis normal thereto. A receptacle opposite the bottom surface is configured to receive a portion of the sporting implement. The extension is configured such that, during swinging of the sporting implement with a hand of a user gripping around the sporting implement portion, the extension contacts an exterior lateral portion and upper portion of fifth proximal phalanx of a user’s hand and the hand is constrained in both the transverse and longitudinal aspects while being allowed rotation of a first metacarpal of the hand away from the central axis.

A flexible grip for a golf club having a tubular member with one or more strips of elastomeric material significantly softer than the elastomeric material of the tubular member provided on the exterior surface of the tubular member. In one version, the strips are on the top flat surface, on other versions, the strips are on the side or both. In another version, an air pocket is provided beneath the strip on the top surface. In another version, a rib or key on a core bar forms a channel on the inner surface of the tubular member during molding. Upon removal of the core bar, a pocket is formed along the grip upon assembly on a club shaft. Upon gripping, the strips and pockets allow depression providing indication of grip pressure. The strips also provide visual aids for user hand positioning.

A screw based compression unit within a golf grip that fits within a golf club shaft to support a core and rubber grip.

A screw based compression unit within a golf grip that fits within a golf club shaft to support a core and rubber grip.

To provide a bat gripping structure that enables a batter to achieve a proper grip, a grip structure is provided in which the bat is in the “top” position during the take-back of batting, in order to accomplish the swing “to put the bat outwardly from inside” along a line of the bottom hand, a locking structure that enables a lower region (bottom grip) of the grip portion to be gripped at the grip portion of the bat under the palmar grip is employed to provide the grip structure effective to lock the palmar grip of the bottom hand, so that a proper swing to “put the bat out from inside” may be achieved and the angular velocity during the bat swinging is increased. Also, the bat structure is also provided in which by adding a weight ΔM (10˜100 gr) to the bat head H of the bat having the grip structure of the kind referred to above, the batting energy at the sweet spot is improved to enhance the impact having the maximum batting effect.

To provide a bat gripping structure that enables a batter to achieve a proper grip, a grip structure is provided in which the bat is in the “top” position during the take-back of batting, in order to accomplish the swing “to put the bat outwardly from inside” along a line of the bottom hand, a locking structure that enables a lower region (bottom grip) of the grip portion to be gripped at the grip portion of the bat under the palmar grip is employed to provide the grip structure effective to lock the palmar grip of the bottom hand, so that a proper swing to “put the bat out from inside” may be achieved and the angular velocity during the bat swinging is increased. Also, the bat structure is also provided in which by adding a weight ΔM (10˜100 gr) to the bat head H of the bat having the grip structure of the kind referred to above, the batting energy at the sweet spot is improved to enhance the impact having the maximum batting effect.

A grip device is disposed on a handle of a piece of equipment. The grip device includes a lower concave surface contacting the handle and a lower concave surface oriented away from the handle. An adhesive tape is wrapped around the handle and grip device in one embodiment. In another embodiment, an adhesive layer is disposed between the handle and grip device. The lower concave surface includes a first taper at an end of the grip device oriented toward a knob of the handle. The upper convex surface includes a second taper at an end of the grip device oriented away from the knob of the handle. The grip device bends to follow a curvature of the handle.

A grip device is disposed on a handle of a piece of equipment. The grip device includes a lower concave surface contacting the handle and a lower concave surface oriented away from the handle. An adhesive tape is wrapped around the handle and grip device in one embodiment. In another embodiment, an adhesive layer is disposed between the handle and grip device. The lower concave surface includes a first taper at an end of the grip device oriented toward a knob of the handle. The upper convex surface includes a second taper at an end of the grip device oriented away from the knob of the handle. The grip device bends to follow a curvature of the handle.